Practical activity group - click on the title for a link to a video of the practical

1 Moles determination 

Techniques/skills covered:

• use of appropriate apparatus to record measurements of mass and volume of a gas, 1.2.2(a)

Practical activities:

• • 1.1 Determination of the composition of copper(II) carbonate basic 

  • 1.2 Determination of the relative atomic mass of magnesium 

  • 1.3 Determination of the formula for magnesium oxide 

  • CLEAPSS alternative 

2 Acid–base titration

Techniques/skills covered:

• • measurement of volume of a liquid, 1.2.2(a) 

  • use of volumetric flask, including accurate technique for making up a standard solution, 1.2.2(e) 

  • use of laboratory apparatus for titration, using burette and pipette, 1.2.2(d)(i) 

  • use of acid–base indicators in titrations of weak/strong acids with weak/strong alkalis, 1.2.2(f)

Practical activities:

• • 2.1 Determination of the concentration of hydrochloric acid 

  • 2.2 Determination of the molar mass of an acid 

  • 2.3 Identification of an unknown carbonate 

3 Enthalpy determination

Techniques/skills covered:

• • use of appropriate apparatus to record measurements of temperature, 1.2.2(a)

Practical activities:

• • 3.1 Determination of the enthalpy change of neutralisation 

  • 3.2 Determination of an enthalpy change of reaction by Hess’ Law 

  • 3.3 Determination of enthalpy changes of combustion 

4 Qualitative analysis of ions

Techniques/skills covered:

• • use of laboratory apparatus for qualitative tests for ions, 1.2.2(d)(iii) 

  • make and record qualitative observations, 1.2.1(d)

Practical activities:

• • 4.1 Identifying unknowns 1 

  • 4.2 Identifying unknowns 2 

  • 4.3 Identifying unknowns 3

  • CLEAPSS Alternative 

5 Synthesis of an organic liquid

Techniques/skills covered:

• • use of laboratory apparatus for heating under reflux, 1.2.2(d)(ii)1 

  • purification of a liquid product, including use of a separating funnel, 1.2.2(g)(ii) 

  • use of laboratory apparatus for distillation, 1.2.2(d)(ii) 

  • identification of potential hazards (risk assessment), CPAC3

Practical activities:

• • 5.1 Synthesis of a haloalkane 

  • 5.2 Preparation of cyclohexene 

  • 5.3 Oxidation of ethanol

    • CLEAPSS Alternative  

  • 5.4 Hydration of hex-1-ene

6 Synthesis of an organic solid

Techniques/skills covered:

• • use of laboratory apparatus for heating under reflux, 1.2.2(d)(ii)1 

  • use of laboratory apparatus for filtration, including use of fluted filter paper, or filtration under reduced pressure, 1.2.2(d)(iv) 

  • purification of a solid product by recrystallisation, 1.2.2(g)(i) 

  • use of melting point apparatus, 1.2.2(h) 

  • use of thin layer or paper chromatography, 1.2.2(i) 

  • identification of potential hazards (risk assessment),

Practical activities:

• • 6.1 Synthesis of aspirin 

  • 6.2 Preparation of benzoic acid 

  • 6.3 Preparation of methyl 3-nitrobenzoate 

7 Qualitative analysis of organic functional groups

Techniques/skills covered:

• • use of laboratory apparatus for qualitative tests for organic functional groups, 1.2.2(d)(iii) 

  • use of a water bath or electric heater or sand bath for heating, 1.2.2(b) 

  • make and record qualitative observations, 1.2.1(d)

Practical activities:

• • 7.1 Identifying organic unknowns 1 

  • 7.2 Identifying organic unknowns 2 

  • 7.3 Identifying organic unknowns 3 

8 Electrochemical cells

Techniques/skills covered:

• • setting up of electrochemical cells and measuring voltages, 1.2.2(j)

Practical activities:

• • 8.1 Electrochemical cells 1 

  • 8.2 Electrochemical cells 2 

  • 8.3 Electrochemical cells 3

    • CLEAPSS Alternative  

9 Rates of reaction – continuous monitoring method

Techniques/skills covered:

• • measurement of rate of reaction by a continuous monitoring method, 1.2.2(l)(ii) 

• use of appropriate apparatus to record measurements of time, 1.2.2(a) 

• use appropriate software to process data, 1.2.1(g)2

Practical activities:

• • 9.1 The rate of decomposition of hydrogen peroxide 

  • 9.2 The rate of reaction of calcium carbonate and hydrochloric acid 

  • 9.3 The rate of reaction of magnesium and hydrochloric acid 

10 Rates of reaction– initial rates method

Techniques/skills covered:

• • measurement of rate of reaction by an initial rate method such as a clock reaction, 1.2.2(l)(i) 

• identify and control variables, CPAC2 

• use appropriate software to process data, 1.2.1(g)2

Practical activities:

• • 10.1 Rates – iodine clock 

  • 10.2 Rates – thiosulfate and acid 

  • 10.3 Rates – activation energy 

11 pH measurement

Techniques/skills covered:

• • measurement of pH using pH charts, or pH meter, or pH probe on a data logger, 1.2.2(c)

Practical activities:

• • 11.1 pH – problem solving 

  • 11.2 pH – titration curves 

  • 11.3 pH – acids and buffers 

12 Research skills

Techniques/skills covered:

• apply investigative approaches and methods to practical work, 1.2.1(a) 

• use online and offline research skills, including websites, textbooks and other printed scientific sources of information, 1.2.1(h) 

• correctly cite sources of information, 1.2.1(j)

Practical activities:

• • 12.1 Investigating iron tablets 

  • 12.2 Investigating the copper content of brass screws 

  • 12.3 Investigating the reaction between potassium manganate(VII) and ethanedioic acid